Imagine this a sanctuary of serenity amid Detroit’s urban landscape. This is Saint Paul Monastery. It stands as a testament to faith, resilience, and community service. Let’s explore its story.
In 1928, the Catholic Passionist Fathers purchased 20 acres on Schoolcraft Avenue. They planned to construct a monastery. The Passionist order was founded in the 18th century by Paul Francis Daniel. He was later canonized as St. Paul of the Cross. Passionists divided their time. They lived a cloistered life and engaged in missionary outreach. They taught and aided priests in other churches.
The $350,000 monastery was dedicated in August 1930. Sixty Passionist community members moved in. This included 20 priests and 40 students. They lived in small, simple cells. They spent long hours in prayer or contemplation. The public chapel was the only decorated part of the building. It hosted services for the community.
The Passionists had a unique practice. They held “retreats.” Catholics from all walks of life attended large group gatherings at the monastery. They received training and spiritual guidance. This helped them in their daily lives. The retreats became so popular that a dedicated facility was built in 1960. It was next to the monastery.
Today, the Passionist order is still active in Detroit but smaller. The old monastery building stopped being a residence after 1995. In 1996, plans to locate a charter school for at-risk children in the monastery failed. The building needed costly repairs.
The old monastery was sold to an Orthodox organization. They used it as a research and retreat center. St. Raphael of Brooklyn, an Orthodox church, used the chapel from 2002 until 2015. Then it closed.
A modern retreat house was built in 1960. It has 85 guestrooms. The original monastery now houses St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church and St. Andrew House. Five Passionists live next door in a newer monastery. They host weekend retreats. They also offer abbreviated, single-day or evening retreats and other events.
The retreat center has three wings of guestrooms. One is named after St. Joseph. The other two are named after Passionist saints. They are St. Paul of the Cross and St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. Statues adorn the grounds. One is of St. Paul of the Cross. Another is of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Our Lady of Częstochowa is above one of the chapel’s side altars.
The chapel features a triangular design. The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph with Child Jesus are suspended near the sanctuary. The Stations of the Cross line the interior and exterior walls of the chapel. The retreat center includes two acres of trails behind the chapel. St. Joseph and the Sacred Heart of Jesus stand among the trails.
An open square sits in the middle of the monastery. It features religious statues, a water fountain, benches, and dining tables. A large cross towers over the retreat house. Another large cross stands at the back of the chapel. The Detroit Passionists are under the direction of the Holy Cross Province. It is based in Illinois.
In 1930, the Passionists opened the large Saint Paul Monastery during the Great Depression. Their mission was to serve the spiritual needs of the church. They proclaimed the saving love of Jesus Crucified. From the start, the Passionists shared their life and prayer with the laity. They offered weekend retreats. This grew into a retreat movement. In 1960, the new St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center opened. It expanded its service to lay men and women, priests, religious figures, educators, and students.
Today, the Passionists continue to sponsor St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center. They offer weekend retreats for men and women. These deepen faith and provide spiritual resources. Additional programs are available for religious figures, clergy, and married couples. Saint Paul Monastery stands as a beacon of faith. It enriches the lives of those who seek solace and spiritual growth.